The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1887-06-24
MEMORIAL ADDRESS
Delivered by y. N. sIlIIar, Eaqs II Albany
Or, May both, 1887.

Il tttHteWs
The day set apart for the strewEng oI
flowers upon the graves cf departed
comrades aud soldiers Of the warrior th.
perpetulty Of the Union, has come again,
With II comes tLo sad though cherished
rscol.eetiona Of struggle fraught not
only Of blessings already realized, ba.
which il hoped will still go marcainG
down the stream Of time with ever in-
creased blessings 20 our country aud o
humanity.
The great test Of intelligent free gov
ernment was placsd ia tbs balance, and
che contest la which the horoes whose
graves we beleck with howera along
with the survivors, met not only the
emergency of the occasion, but triumph
ed 10 such manner as TO hand down
to humanity Of every age and cline tho
great truth that free government was
not only a possibility, but grand fact,
and that IL was within the power aud
ability Of = free people 10 maintain the
same. The wiSest and some Of the
greatest statesmen Of ether form4 Of
government in which the citizens exsr-
siae but little influence, long predicted
that our day Of self-government by tho
people was simply an experiment. and .
delusion--the rising, as II we're, Of q
meteor 10 The western world and which
would decay aud 6aally die out when
the strong test Of civil commotion and
domestic war should come.
The mighty shock came like thunder
ftom a clear sky. The history OF the
world nowhere presents struggle 10 50
short time, fought upon larger scale
and with greater determination than
the war for the maintenance Of the Un-
ion. The enemy, braYe.aelf confident,
brought every resource 20 the conflict,
while the evil wishers aud fAIss prophets
ef frss government abroad aided a. far
a. possible, aud yet amid the oombina-
tions of all, the glorious dag represent
ing sslf-sovernment aLd the home Of
fresmen gained decisive aud triumph
ant victory, which IS time rolls on will
ever answer back that sslf-savsramsn
Is an established fact. To the silent
sleepeis as well ~ their surviving cam-
rades, che world will ever 10 indebted
orthis never dying truth. What could
be more appropriate ia this d-y Of mon-
umsntal Dailding 90 individual men,
North as we'll a. s ruth, the proprie ty Of
which in some instances might be gaes-
toned for the country's good, while to
others the Fsnown and grali'ndc Of
which was purchased by the great rank
and Gle Of the Ulion army whose deed.
are rarely told, aud whose praises ara
seldom sung, and who, like the Roman
soldier Of Pompsli, amidst the to,terins
sarth and flaming river Of ,avs,stood st
the post Of duty,eyer BEARING aloft the
nations standard, than TO raise a moun-
msnt like that o. Washington 1t he
capitol Of tho bstion in honor Of the
brave men living and dead, who barred
their breasts to savs the nation. Such
memorial like Liberty EnIigh,eniug
the World and the statue Of Wishing
ton would be the guiding star and des--
tiny Of hope to tho libe'ty loving Ia
every sge aud country add fitting
tribute to the mnltitudes that lie,or will
shortly 'ie,in the cemeteries Of Cur land,
and whose sestiag places will soon be
forgotten snd unmarked.
The deAd the patriot gallant dead.
on every fold they lie
On every field Of strife made red
With bloody vlctery.
Their homes are on the Northern hills
And on the Southern plains
BY brock and river, ,mound and rill.
And In the sounding main.
The causes tkat led to this great con-
fiict are not plain, the reason assigned
meet not the sober judgment of the pres
ent, let alone the calm marshalling Of
facts and the deduction of impartial
historians, undoubtedly the utterances
Of ambitious men and. would-be party
leaders Of the South, had much to do
with the sowing Of 8, cession used. The
arguments put forth by these men would
naver have produced bloody harvest
had not passion and prejudice came TO
the rescue Secession Is self-destructive
10 any form Of Government It builds
its own tomb and will ever die suici-
daI death. II differs from rsyolutio n
in that, that it calls for separation ard
division, while revolution demands a
remodeling of the wholo,a contest with
in, and not necessarily separation.
TIE one il justifable, to meet the
progress and exigencies Of the times and
will ever be sanctioned by the govern
ed, the other is rope of sand and can
not be maintained on principle.
Slavery az IN institution did not cause
the war. A vast maj ,rity ofthe people
favored, or rather acquiesced in It, but
slavery M a diAcuaaoE aud theory
aided greatly to the issue. + furnish.